2013-03-22





Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by PPort City's Tartan Ale.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold and Blue Now: Friday, March 22 - WV MetroNews
In today’s edition of Gold and Blue Now, Mike Florio looks at where Geno Smith will go in the draft, Dustin Garrison gives an update...

Pennesi Completes NCAA Championships Run - WVU Athletics
In his first match of the tournament, Pennesi (141) took on Hofstra’s Luke Vaith and was defeated, 8-3.

Burnett Earns Honorable Mention All-America - WVU Athletics
Senior swimmers Rachael Burnett and Mandie Nugent completed the 500 free on Thursday in day one of the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.

Geno Smith chatter smacks of classic pre-draft maneuvering - NFL.com
Are you a GM with a high draft pick and no interest in a QB like Geno Smith? Gil Brandt presents five foolproof strategies for maneuvering your way into a draft-day trade bounty.

Video: Draft Lab -- quarterbacks - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay discuss the quarterbacks in the 2013 NFL draft.

Adam Pacman Jones re-signs with the Bengals - WVU Pros
After playing a big role in the Bengals' secondary and on special teams, Adam Jones re-upped with the Bengals for three more seasons.

Pat White gets another chance in front of scouts at VA Tech’s pro day - WVU Pros
Yesterday, White stepped on to throw to Virginia Tech receivers in place of Logan Thomas, the current Hokie quarterback.

News of Note:

WVU players get history lesson - Times West Virginian
“For our young men, it’s a way of recognizing we’re representing something bigger than ourselves,” is the way defensive coordinator Keith Patterson explained it. “Sometimes it becomes me, me, me, so we’ve tried to create an atmosphere of respect and that has players thinking ‘I’m honored to be here.’”

Mountaineer football team takes spring break - Register-Herald
The team will now take a week off before returning to the practice fields to finish off the five weeks of preparation before the April 20 Gold-Blue Spring Game.

Garrison healthy, embracing new role as a leader - Daily Athenaeum
After spending last offseason rehabilitating and the majority of the 2012 season playing with pain, junior running back Dustin Garrison finally feels completely healthy.

Garrison Healthy, Ready to Rebound for WVU - WVillustrated
Junior running back says he's putting the past behind him and focusing on doing what it takes to bring the Mountaineers more wins.

HERTZEL COLUMN: Cook ready for defense to prove worth - Times West Virginian
“It’s getting back to what we were before,” he said.

Mountaineer defense looks to find different identity in 2013 - Daily Athenaeum
"We don’t have seasons like that. West Virginia is known for winning, so for us to have a season like that, we felt like we let the fans down and the state down," said redshirt sophomore Isaiah Bruce.

WVU’s Cook explains why defense was worst ever - Charleston Daily Mail
"We just didn't get it down. It's not on the coaches or anything. It's on us and the way we thought and the way we played."

Eger To Please - BGN
Pat Eger hasn’t often minced words. And he didn’t start recently when asked, once again, about replacing West Virginia’s “three-headed monster” of Smith, Austin and Bailey.

Crunching numbers: rushing in the 'Raid' - Charleston Gazette
It's all about the brand these days.

Photo Gallery III: WVU 2013 Spring Football - BGN

PHOTOS: Mountaineer Football Spring Practice - WVillustrated

Recruiting:

Making (And Getting) The Call - BGN
West Virginia is the latest of a number of schools to offer dual-threat quarterback William Ulmer, who said he was elated to get the call from the Mountaineers.

Around the League (and Beyond):

Baylor Spring Football: ’12 recruits making up for late start - Waco Tribune

Know Your Enemy: Notre Dame - Wide Right & Natty Lite

Kansas and Kansas State Make Kansas City a Hot Ticket - Rock Chalk Talk

LaSalle Preview: The role of the bench - Bring On The Cats

NCAA First Round Statistical Breakdown: Oklahoma Sooners & San Diego State Aztecs Could Be Identical Twins - Crimson And Cream Machine

2013 NCAA Tournament results, Oklahoma State vs. Oregon: Ducks trample Okie St., 68-55 - SBNation.com

Bev Kearney's Attorney Ratchets Up The Pressure On Texas Administration - Barking Carnival

TCU a Big 12 title contender or pretender? - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

As tournament begins, Tech's coaching search wages on - Lubbock Avalanche Journal

What's On Tap:

WVU Hosts Texas Tech in Charleston - WVU Athletics
three-game series at Appalachian Power Park

March Madness PSA: Know the signs - SBNation.com
March Madness is real. Don't be a victim. Know the signs, know the facts, get help before it's too late.

Video of Interest:

The Buzz around Morgantown centers on two Senior members of the Women's Swim Team, Rachael Burnett and Mandie Nugent as they head the NCAA National Championships this weekend. We'll meet slugger Matt Frazer from the Baseball Team, and take a look at sights-and-sounds from WVU Spring Football Practice.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Of course. But, maybe....

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is an actress & model from Australia. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of Juliana Cameron.

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